Engine failure probed after A330 aborts Gatwick take-off

Canadian investigators have detailed an engine incident which led an Air Transat Airbus A330-300 to abort take-off at London Gatwick.

Transportation Safety Board of Canada says the aircraft, bound for Toronto on 3 May, had been accelerating past 100kt when the crew heard a “bang”, and the twinjet began to yaw.

“A few seconds later, another bang was heard which was also associated with another yaw,” it adds. The crew rejected the take-off and brought the aircraft to a halt on the runway.

Pilots received an engine failure and engine stall message relating to the right-hand Rolls-Royce Trent 700 powerplant, and the crew shut it down. Air traffic control stated that black smoke was emanating from the engine, and the crew activated the extinguisher.

No damage was found to the aircraft (C-GTSD) which Flight Fleets Analyzer lists as a 17-year old airframe. Nor were there any injuries among the 326 passengers and 11 crew members.

Investigators have yet to disclose the extent and nature of the powerplant damage.